Urban air pollution in China: destination image and risk perceptions

Inbound tourist arrivals into China have been declining in recent years, possibly in response to increasing levels of urban air pollution. To examine Westerners’ contemporary views on China as a travel destination, with a particular focus on air pollution, this research surveyed 600 US and Australian residents. An online panel survey collected data on cognitive and affective destination image, cognitive and affective risk perceptions, intention to visit China and key demographic variables. The findings show that, while China's cognitive image attributes were perceived positively, potential travellers expressed negative views about travel risks in China in general and about air quality in particular. Importantly, feelings towards the risk of air quality had a significant negative impact on destination image as well as intention to visit China. The research contributes to theory by highlighting the importance of considering affective risk perceptions in destination image studies. While some market segments seemed less sensitive to air pollution than others, this paper concludes that unless China proactively addresses the problem of air pollution, for example by seeking to stimulate positive feelings, international arrivals may continue to be compromised.     

A theoretical framework of electronic word-of-mouth against the backdrop of social networking websites

This study proposed and tested a theoretical framework that explains electronic word-of-mouth (eWOM) against the backdrop of social networking websites (SNWs), which have gained substantial popularity among travelers. In particular, a United States (US) nationwide online survey was conducted and nine hypotheses were tested. The findings suggest that willingness to share knowledge and switching costs are positively related to eWOM communication. In addition, customer value (utilitarian) has positive relationships with willingness to share knowledge, perceived security, and switching cost, while customer value (hedonic) has positive relationships with willingness to share knowledge and switching costs. Last but not least, the findings indicate that perceived security does negatively impact eWOM. In light of the major findings, the article sets forth strategic implications for travel-related social networking websites.     

To go or not to go: travel constraints and attractiveness of travel affecting outbound Chinese tourists to Japan

The fast growth of the Chinese economy has transformed Chinese outbound tourism into one of the major players in the tourism industry worldwide. However, Chinese outbound tourists may still encounter travel constraints in some countries, such as Japan, which has had a close and complicated relationship in history with China. This study adopted the qualitative approach by applying focus group and in-depth interviews to investigate and triangulate the travel barriers affecting Chinese outbound travel to Japan. The findings indicated that domestic nationalist sentiment played a key constraining role in influencing Chinese outbound travel decision-making, followed by current political factors, while quality products and service, as well as social environment encouraged tourists to travel. This research also found that visitors and non-visitors have perception differences in terms of travel barriers and attractiveness of travel.     

Gap year volunteer tourism: Myths of Global Citizenship?

The valorisation of cross-cultural understanding and promotion of an ethic of global citizenship are at the forefront of the recent development and proliferation of international ‘gap year’ travel programs and policies. Governments and industry alike promote gap year travel uncritically as a guaranteed pathway to the development of inclusive ideologies associated with global citizenship. In this paper we examine how the neoliberalist context in which gap year travel programs have proliferated does little to promote tolerance. We then consider the recent growth of ‘volunteer tourism’ as an alternative gap year youth travel experience and explore how the implied resistance to self-serving neoliberalist values that it engenders can become coopted by neoliberalism.     

互联网对旅游目的地分销渠道影响——黄山案例研究

互联网的发展与应用对旅游目的地分销渠道产生了显著影响,传统旅行社的分销渠道功能发生变化,一些新的分销渠道如黄山的自助游服务酒店开始出现。关于互联网是否导致旅游分销渠道的"去中介化"和"再中介化"的争论成为学术界讨论的热点。文章以黄山为案例,以历时态的视角动态分析了互联网对黄山旅游目的地分销渠道的影响。研究发现,互联网使旅游目的地分销渠道更加多元化、网络化,目的地旅游分销关系、功能与结构等方面也发生了相应的变化,旅游者的主导地位增强,旅游中介的垄断地位相对减弱,但目的地的分销渠道"去中介化"与"再中介化"并未清晰地形成。     

基于员工维度的旅行社业绩评价体系研究

业绩评价是旅行社进行科学管理的重要手段。智力密集型、服务型和相关型的旅行社行业属性,使员工人力资本体现出能动性及与内外部高度合作协调性的特征,成为旅行社竞争能力的核心资本。缺乏员工维度的业绩评价就会在一定程度上导致员工流失率上升和行业中＂柠檬市场＂现象的出现。文章从旅行社业绩形成动因的逻辑分析入手,构建了以员工满意度和员工服务效率结果指标为核心的旅行社业绩评价体系,并以此为基础从成本指标、时间指标及质量指标等过程指标角度进行了具体细化衡量。     

中国奖励旅游经营的特征、问题与思考——基于旅行社的访谈分析

文章在对广州市10家代表性旅行社的会奖负责人进行半结构性深度访谈的基础上,运用内容分析的方法,提炼出现阶段中国奖励旅游经营的特征与面临的共性问题,主要有：对奖励旅游的内涵认知国内更关注旅游成本的来源而不是活动的激励效果;购买方消费习惯不成熟、目的性不强、交易中平等沟通意识不够;奖励旅游中间商提供的产品创意性不强、组织结构不适应,管理科技含量低且与买方关系结合方式不稳定;供应商与中间商合作不稳定、服务灵活性不强且对目的地支持的依赖程度高。进一步指出,在中国传统文化下,重集体主义的奖励理念影响了消费意识;旅游业自身的结构性障碍及多重委托代理下的旅行社供应链地位不稳定造成行业的无序竞争与产品质量的难以控制;政府促进下的行业管理组织的成立是规范经营的重要途径。     

基于扎根理论的旅游幸福感构成——以互联网旅游博客文本为例

追求幸福是个体生存的根本动机,当旅游日益成为人们享受幸福生活的重要表达时,旅游研究有理由探讨旅游与幸福感的关系。以扎根理论为研究工具,以旅游博客的博主为研究对象,系统分析旅游过程中旅游者身心感受的变化。研究发现,旅游的根本动机是寻找和收获旅游幸福感。旅游者从居住地世俗生活状态进入旅游环境,通过休闲、娱乐、教育、逃避、美感和移情过程,达到消遣、逃逸、认知、审美和移情的目的;享受从生理感知、心理变化和灵性提升不同层级的生命状态,获得深刻的人生经历,再回到居住地惯常环境的历程,实现从世俗到"神圣"再归于平凡的生命状态转换。旅游前美好期待体验、旅游中福乐体验、旅游后温馨回忆体验,成为旅游幸福感的时间构成;享受闲适生活、获得旅游福乐体验、提升积极情绪、减弱不良情绪、感受人际美好,进而提升人生境界,是旅游幸福感的重要内容构成。因此,旅游服务实际上应起始于旅游行程前,绽放于旅游过程中,延伸至旅游活动后。旅游服务必须持高度的人文情怀,以发于心、形于外的贴心关照才能给予旅游者一段幸福的人生经历。     

关于旅游合同示范文本的法律思考

旅游合同示范文本由旅游局和工商局联合制定推广,性质上属行政指导,具有效率、安全、优先及补充等法律价值,示范文本条款分四大功能模块,由通用条款和协议条款组成。目前示范文本是多级制定,种类单一,权威性不高,文章提出完善和丰富示范文本种类和内容、统一示范文本和示范文本备案豁免等建议,以提升旅行社使用示范文本的积极性,发挥示范文本的作用。     

浅谈高职院校图书馆藏书与校园文化建设

教育作为人类文化传播的载体,是通过学校这个阵地来实现其功能的。学校图书馆是学校文化管理的基地。学校图书馆的馆藏应"虚""实"结合,"藏"一切信息载体,应发挥它的新的服务功能,使图书馆的文化育人职能得以充分地展现。要采取有效措施,满足文化育人的要求,用文化因素塑造学校精神。